‘No’ camp comes out guns blazing

The ‘NO’ camp came out of the meeting of party leaders called by President Anastasiades all guns blazing against the text of the draft agreement for a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Cyprus Mail reports.

DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos called the draft text a “bad basis” for talks that would lead to a “bad solution”. He argued that provisions of the draft text, return to clauses and the phraseology contained in the rejected Annan plan of 2004. Moreover he said it was full of constructive ambiguities and hinted at prior agreement on a number of issues between the two sides, thereby acknowledging the document of convergences tabled by the UN following Anastasiades’ election, and rejected by DIKO.

The draft text grants separate sovereignty to the Turkish Cypriots, reintroduces the notion of “double citizenship”, and refers to the dissolution of the Cyprus Republic and “virgin birth” of a new federation, said the DIKO leader.

Papadopoulos further argued that the text provides new concessions to the Turkish Cypriots on governance issues while containing no reference to matters of primary interest to the Greek Cypriots, like security, the withdrawal of Turkish troops, return of refugees, withdrawal of settlers and the property issue.

“In simple words, with this agreement, the Turkish side achieves most of its long-standing ambitions, and all that, before talks have even started,” he said.

EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said his party considers the latest draft text “wrong”, hinting that Turkish positions trumped human rights and the principles of the EU and UN.

“If the president decides to proceed, he needs to take into account all the dangers, concerns and observations of the political parties,” he said, adding, however, that his party would assist the president in his efforts once negotiations begin.

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou strongly urged the president not to enter into negotiations based on this draft proposal, saying his party explicitly objected to the finalised version. He referred to the dangers of “three-headed sovereignty” and “triple citizenship” allegedly found in the draft text, in which there were clear imprints of the Annan plan.

Greens leader Giorgos Perdikis said yet another page was written yesterday in the long book of political concessions made by the Greek Cypriots. Asked if the Greens would support the president in negotiations, he replied: “It’s God’s support he needs more, because he is embarking on a road that will not be strewn with rose petals, but with traps and mines and the Greens’ support will not help him with anything.”

Citizens’ Alliance leader Giorgos Lillikas, accused the president of making “catastrophic concessions” before the talks even start and called for the establishment of a common front of resistance to reverse Anastasiades’ plans.

AKEL joins the ‘Yeses’

AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said that, while his party disagreed with the president’s decision to seek a new joint communiqué instead of simply reconfirming the joint statements of previous leaders, they would support him.

“We told the president that the decision is his and if he decides to begin negotiations, provided that (Turkish Cypriot leader) Mr (Dervis) Eroglu responds positively, we will support him.”

Kyprianou said it was hugely important for the Greek Cypriot leadership to act responsibly and constructively and avoid another rejected referendum.

Regarding those who argue against starting negotiations, he asked what the alternative is. “If you convince me there is something workable, I’ll support it. But there is no convincing reply as to what we would do next.”

He warned that as time passes and the talks don’t start, Cyprus comes ever closer to de jure permanent partition, he warned.

“AKEL will never accept partition. I say it clearly to all. If some have reconciled themselves with this idea, they should say it clearly and honestly to the Cypriot people, to engage in dialogue and let the Cypriot people decide what they want to do. We, however, will never support such an eventuality.”

DISY leader Averof Neophytou said that if Eroglu agrees on the draft text, they had given the president the go-ahead to begin talks.

He called on those who disagree to take it as a given that everyone has the national interest at heart, even if they hold different views. “We do not need fanaticism. This country has paid dearly for fanaticism and populism.”

Anastasiades says draft document satisfies the basic principles for a solution

President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday said the heralded the “serious prospects” that peace talks would finally start between the two communities, calling on detractors to show “patience and self-restraint” to achieve the greatest possible unity at this “sensitive point”.

During a live public address following his meeting with party leaders yesterday, Anastasiades confirmed that the Greek Cypriot side has agreed to a new draft proposal of the joint communiqué and was now waiting for the Turkish Cypriot response.

“I want to be very clear,” he said. “From the outset, we set certain specific parameters for the resumption of a substantive dialogue on the Cyprus problem, so that we could be led to a viable and functional solution. We undertook a systematic effort to convince the international community for the necessity of a communiqué with a substantive content. The international community embraces our position. ”

“Today, it seems that serious prospects are in the making for a substantive joint communiqué, which satisfies the basic principles for a solution to the Cyprus problem and will lead to the resumption of negotiations, not for the sake of the negotiations,” he said.

Anastasiades alluded to the most contested issue in the negotiations: “It seems that some concerns expressed by our side, for example, on sovereignty, also preoccupy, in a contrary way, the concerns of the other side.”

He called for “a collective approach and the strongest possible unity” to handle the next stages in the peace negotiations.

Anastasiades said should the Turkish Cypriots respond positively to the latest draft proposal, he would brief the Cypriot people and in depth, about the true facts. Until then, he would not comment on the various criticisms of his handling of the joint communiqué.

“At the same time, I want to stress that the effort to reach agreement on a joint communiqué is the beginning of a big and arduous effort to at last achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, and certainly not the end.”

Asked if the other side had responded to the joint communique, he said they hadn’t. “It seems that some concerns that are expressed on our side, for example, on sovereignty, also preoccupy, in the opposite way, the other side."

Anastasiades said when he addresses the people he will analyse the real content of the communiqué, as it is actually recorded on the basis of expert opinions and not on the basis of various interpretations.

“It is a fact that some things are interpreted one way and others another. That’s what I’m referring to.”

President Anastasiades then flew to Athens for consultations with the Greek government, which he said had been kept informed on a daily basis.

Eroglu reactions

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu fired off a series of statements in response to Greek Cypriot press reports that an agreement was near. On Wednesday evening, he denied reports that an agreement on a joint declaration had been reached, repeating his commitment to the Turkish Cypriot proposal tabled on December 14, which the Greek Cypriots had already rejected as is.

Yesterday, he released a second statement confirming that a new draft proposal was handed over in the morning by the UN and that negotiations were ongoing.

By afternoon, a third statement was released by Eroglu’s office saying it appeared negotiations on the joint communiqué were at the final stage, adding that the Turkish Cypriot leader was waiting for the Greek Cypriot side to clarify its stance before negotiations could start.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen yesterday cited a diplomatic source saying the aim was for the two leaders to meet on Monday to kick-start negotiations. The paper also said UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer was expected on the island in the coming days.

Nami: We are close to an agreement on the joint statement

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister, Ozdil Nami, said that the two sides in Cyprus are close to reaching an agreement on the joint statement.

The two sides will have an opportunity to focus on tangible issues instead of accusing each other on the joint statement, Nami said. He added that efforts on the joint declaration have reached a final stage which showed that there is a political will on both sides to a certain extent.

Speaking on Bayrak television, Nami said US diplomat Victoria Nuland’s visit to Cyprus was a sign that the US believed the Cyprus talks could succeed. He noted: “She wouldn’t have come if they (the US) did not believe there is a chance. She held important contacts, two meetings with the Greek Cypriot leader and issued a written statement expressing her satisfaction with the two sides’ determination. We, at the foreign ministry, did what we could to assist her.”

Responding to another question on the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer, Nami claimed: “Downer has an important duty in Cyprus. It is the proof of the UN Secretary General’s interest on the issue. This should not be wasted. Downer has no difficulties with us. We have always been constructive”.

Also expressing the hope that Downer will resume his duties, Nami warned that if Downer leaves before accomplishing his goals, this will be a waste of precious time.

The draft statement in English

“The two leaders had their first meeting today under the auspices of the UN Secretary General’s Good Offices mission. The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere and the two leaders have agreed to the following:

1. The status quo is unacceptable and its prolongation will have negative consequences for the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The leaders affirmed that a settlement would have a positive impact on the entire region, while first and foremost benefiting Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, respecting democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as each other’s distinct identity and integrity and ensuring their common future in a united Cyprus within the European Union.

2. The leaders expressed their determination to resume structured negotiations in a results-oriented manner. All unresolved core issues will be on the table and will be discussed interdependently. The leaders will aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible and hold separate simultaneous referenda thereafter.

3. The settlement will be based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as set out in the relevant Security Council Resolutions and the High Level Agreements. The united Cyprus, as a member of the United Nations and of the European Union, shall have a single, international legal personality and a single sovereignty which is defined as the sovereignty which is enjoyed by all members States of the United Nations, under the UN Charter and which emanates equally from Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. There will be a single united Cyprus citizenship, regulated by federal law. All citizens of the United Cyprus shall also be citizens of either the Greek-Cypriot constituent state or the Turkish-Cypriot constituent state. This status shall be internal and shall complement and not substitute in any way the united Cyprus citizenship.

The powers of the federal government and like matters that are clearly incidental to its specified powers, will be assigned by the constitution. The Federal constitution will also provide for the residual powers to be exercised by the constituent states. The constituent states will exercise fully and irrevocably all their powers free from encroachment by the federal government. The federal laws will not encroach upon constituent state laws within the constituent states’ area of competences and the constituent states’ laws will not encroach upon the federal laws within the federal government’s competences. Any dispute in respect thereof will be adjudicated finally by the Federal Supreme Court. Neither side may claim authority or jurisdiction over the other.

4. The united Cyprus federation shall result from the settlement following the settlement’s approval by separate simultaneous referenda. The federal constitution shall prescribe that the united Cyprus federation shall be composed of two constituent states of equal status. The bi-zonal, bi-communal nature of the federation and the principles upon which the EU is founded will be safeguarded and respected throughout the island. The Federal constitution shall be the supreme law of the land and will be binding on all the federation’s authorities and on the constituent states. Union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession or any other unilateral change to the state of affairs will be prohibited.

5. The negotiations are based on the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

6. The appointed representatives are fully empowered to discuss any issue at any time and should enjoy parallel access to all stakeholders and interested parties in the process, as needed. The leaders of the two communities will meet as often as needed. They retain the ultimate decision-making power. Only an agreement freely reached by the leaders may be put to separate simultaneous referenda. Any kind of arbitration is excluded.

7. The sides will seek to create a positive atmosphere to ensure the talks succeed. They commit to avoid blame games or other negative public comments on the negotiations. They also commit to efforts to implement confidence building measures that will provide dynamic impetus to the prospect for a united Cyprus.

8. The leaders also announce…(Whatever may else may arise).”